The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-12-15

He DIDN'T TAKE THE PAPERS.
Turning An Old Trick.
A Wealthy Pickaway County
Farmer Tackles a Sure
Thing and Lo0ses
$4,000.
The Old Story Of Buying a Farm, the
Lottery Racket and Big Sucker
And His Cash.
From Columhus Jourpnl.
From Columbus Journal.


From Columbus Journal.
CIRCLEvILLE, O., Dec. THE
biggest confidence game and
three card monte fake ever sue
cessfully played pelha ps in Ohio
was worked today upon Sidner
]. Ward, one of the best known
farmers of Walnut township. and
a man able TO loose the $1,000 of
good, hard cash that he was
swlndled cut of. The bold oper-
ators are supposed 10 have been
"Big Ed Rice" and Ed Hennes-,
sey, two of the bcldest crooks
and confidence men IN the coun-
try, whose pictures adorn every
''roeue's gallery" in The larger
cities, and whose exploits are
known 10 the police everywhere.
Yesterday morning, a man Civ
ing his name as D. Ferguson and
supposed 10 be Rice, drove up in
a single buggy to MIR. Wards res
ldence in Walnut township, and
began the old racket about desir
ing to purchase farm. He had
plenty of money he said. and
wanted the farm for an alleged
brother, who had just disposed OF
tobacco farm in Pennsylvania
He Ferguson) had been direct
ed to see MIR. Ward by Alex.
Bell and David Stein (both neigh
bors) as being a man who wo lid
either sell him some land or Tell
him where he might be likely to
purchase some. He had left his
wife in Circleville, he said, and
was SO well pleased with the
country that he wanted his BROTH
e,Dio purchase a,,place in that vi
cinity. Mr.. Ward became inter
ested In his story and offered to
show him a place that he thought
could be bought.
Just as they were about to
drive away, a small man, good
looking and quite fair, came up
in a double team, and accosted
Ward and Ferguson. He is sup
posed to have been Hennessey.
He represented himself as a
nephew of Gen. G. T. Beauregard,
of the Louisiana lottery, and said
he was connected with that
scheme also. He said that he
was about to open some kind of
a school in Circlevilie, aad want
ed to sell some cards samples of
which he showed) for the benefit
of the proposed school. The pur-
chasers of the cards were TO pay
so much for them, and this would
entitle the buyers to a chance in
the Louisiana lottery. He want
ed good men aud wealthy ones to
aid the scheme, and thought Mr..
Ward just the kind he was look
ing for. They ferguson and
Beauregard) then played the
three cards between them and in
a few moments Ward took a hand.
In an instant he and Ferguson
had won S. each which was paid
them by the alleged Beaure-
gard. Then The latter suggested
that if Ferguson and Ward should
draw the same card four times in
succession they would each be
entitled to 5000. Ward says he
was sure of winning as he OBJ
served The card he was expected
to catch had one end turned up. |
The plan was accepted, buI
Beauregard said that before he |
could go into such heavy trans.
action he must have some assur-
ance that both Ferguson and |
Ward had that amount of money |
Ferguson said his money was all
right, as he had enough 10 pur-
chase big farm, but asked Ward
how his funds were. The latter
said he had no money with him,
but if he (Ferguson) would 60 10
Circleville with him he would get
the money, This they agreed to
do, and leaving Beauregard IN
tie middle of the road i'm his |
buggy. Ward and Ferguson drove
Immediately 10 Circltville for the
cash.
Reaching the city, Ferguson
had some excuse, and would moi
20 to the bank with Ward. prom
ising TO meet him at the edge of
the city. Ward got the money
without any trouble, refusing TO
take certificate of deposit in
lien of The cash, but insisted up.
on having the currency as he had |
IL transaction to close IN the way
or buying a farm that adjoined
his. lie mnss have the cash and
got it. Ferguson met him ont of
town a bit and tl:en drove back
TO Wards house, where Beau-
regard was still awaiting their
return. The cards were arrang |
ed again. the playing being done
on the seat of oae ofihe buggIes.
Werd and Ferguson began 10
play against Beauregard,. winning
and loosing alternately. Fergus.
On won about $4,000. but in a